Picture frame

ABSTRACT

A picture frame is constructed to include an outer frame, an inner frame press-fitted into the inside of the outer frame, a transparent plate and a back plate. The inner frame has a mounting groove in a back side thereof for receiving the transparent plate therein. The back plate is mounted in a back side of the inner frame and peripherally stopped against the inside wall of the outer frame and adapted for holding a picture in between the transparent plate and the back plate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a picture frame and, more particularly, to such a picture frame, which keeps the transparent plate such as the plate of glass firmly in place and, which prevents the glass plate from breaking when fell to the ground accidentally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A regular picture frame is comprised of an outer frame, a glass plate, and a back plate. The outer frame has a mounting groove in the back side adapted for receiving the glass plate and the back plate, enabling the picture or artwork to be sandwiched in between the glass plate and the back plate. Swivel pins may be provided at the back side of the outer frame for securing the glass plate and the back plate to the inside of the outer frame. Because the glass plate is sandwiched in between the outer frame and the back plate, the glass plate may fall out of the outer frame accidentally after removal of the back plate for loading/unloading the picture or artwork. Further, if the picture frame falls to the ground from a high place accidentally, shocks are directly transmitted from the outer frame to the glass plate, and the glass plate may be forced to break.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is one object of the present invention to provide a picture frame, which holds the glass plate firmly in place after removal of the back plate for replacing the picture.

[0004] It is another object of the present invention to provide a picture frame, which has means to protect the glass plate against impact.

[0005] To achieve these objects of the present invention, the picture frame comprises an outer frame, an inner frame press-fitted into the inside of the outer frame, a transparent plate, such as a glass plate, and a back plate. The inner frame has a mounting groove in a back side thereof for receiving the transparent plate therein. The back plate is mounted in a back side of the inner frame and adapted for holding a picture in between the transparent plate and the back plate. The inner frame works as means to buffer and absorb shocks when the picture frame fell to the ground accidentally, preventing the fragile glass plate form damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a picture frame according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a picture frame according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a picture frame 10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of an outer frame 20, an inner frame 30, a transparent plate 40, and a back plate 50.

[0011] The outer frame 20 is a rectangular frame having a mounting groove 22 disposed in the back side 21 thereof and adapted for receiving the inner frame 30 for enabling the outer frame 20 and the inner frame 30 to be secured together. The inner frame 30 is a rectangular frame press-fitted into the mounting groove 22 of the outer frame 20, having a mounting groove 32 disposed in the back side 31 thereof and adapted for receiving the transparent plate 40. The transparent plate 40 can be a glass or acrylic plate press-fitted into the mounting groove 32 of the inner frame 30. The back plate 50 is attached to the back side 31 of the inner frame 30 and peripherally stopped against the inside wall of the outer frame 20 in flush with the back side 21 of the outer frame 20.

[0012] When a picture or artwork 52 sandwiched in between the transparent plate 40 and the back plate 50, the content of the picture or artwork 52 is viewed through the transparent plate 40. After removal of the back plate 30 from the picture frame 10 for replacing the picture or artwork 52, the inner frame 30 is maintained secured to the inside of the outer frame 20 to hold the transparent plate 40 firmly in place. Therefore, the transparent plate 40 does not fall from the picture frame 10 after removal of the back plate 30. In case the picture frame 10 fell to the ground from a high place accidentally, the inner frame 30 absorbs the shocks, preventing damage to the transparent plate 40.

[0013] Further, the outer frame 20 and the inner frame 30 can be made of different materials in different colors, showing a color contrast.

[0014]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to this second embodiment, the picture frame 60 is comprised of an outer frame 62, an inner frame 64 press-fitted into the inside of the outer frame 62, a transparent plate 70 press-fitted into the back mounting groove 66 of the inner frame 64, and a back plate 72 secured to the back side of the inner frame 64 in flush with the back side of the outer frame 62. The inner frame 64 has a stop flange 68 protruded from the periphery and stopped at the front side 63 of the outer frame 62. Unlike the back loading design of the aforesaid first embodiment of the present invention, the inner frame 64 is inserted into the outer frame 62 from the front side 63 of the outer frame 62. When set into position, the stop flange 68 is stopped at the front side 63 of the outer frame 62.

[0015] According to this embodiment, the picture 74 is sandwiched in between the transparent plate 70 and the back plate 72. Because the transparent plate 70 is press-fitted into the inside of the inner frame 64, it does not fall from the inner frame 64 after removal of the back plate 72 from the picture frame 60. Further, the inner frame 64 absorb shocks when the picture frame 60 fell to the ground from a high place accidentally, preventing damage to the transparent plate 70. Because the stop flange 68 protrudes over the front side 63 of the outer frame 62, the picture frame 60 provides an attractive visual effect.

[0016] Although particular embodiments of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A picture frame comprising: an outer frame; an inner frame press-fitted into the inside of said outer frame, said inner frame having a mounting groove in a back side thereof; a transparent plate press-fitted into said mounting groove of the inner frame; and a back plate mounted in a back side of said inner frame and adapted for holding a picture in between said transparent plate and said back plate.
 2. The picture frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transparent plate is a glass plate.
 3. The picture frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer frame has a mounting groove disposed in a back side thereof and adapted for holding said inner frame.
 4. The picture frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner frame has a stop flange protruded from the periphery thereof and stopped at a front side of said outer frame.
 5. The picture frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back plate is peripherally stopped against an inside wall of said outer frame. 